Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-07-28
Mechancown Frederick County, Maryland Thursday July 28, 1887.
The door leading into the hall was

The door leading into the hall was
opeu. Twice as the dog circled around
the room he seemed on the point of 90.
ing out, but each time changed his
mind. whined in an uneasy way, and
then continued his circling. lie did
not look for me. 1t was large room,
with the bed against the wall, and from
the way the brute bumped against the
chairs believe he was nearly blind
lie had been with me two or three
minutes with the hall door was caught
bv draught Of wind and slowly pull
ell to. 1t did not quite shut. The dog
noticed the movement, spring to get
out, and the result was that he pushed
the door shut and snapped the spring
lock. The door leading into the re-
ception room was still open, but the
door from that into the hall was shut
The animal rushed into this room, up
set a chair and bumped the table, and
then came back whining, h' tail down
and his courage gone. and ,lnnk under
my bed That the dog was suffering
with hyirophobia there could be no
doubt. As he returned FROM the re
cep:;or roocl there was foam on his
jaws, and he was so weak he staggered.
Had | been we'll man and fully
armed my situation wonll have been
bad enough, There ! was, perfectly
helpless, locked in with the brute, and
knowing that it might'be hours before
death came to him. My servant had
key to the door, and when hc returned
he would open it and walk it. There
was not the slightest question but that
the dog would at once attack him. |
had two or three minutes in which to
think, and it was wonderful how clear
headed | was. ] looked upon my own
chances as hopeless, and therefore de-
termined that when Henry returned ]
would. call out to him before he got the
door open. l was also concerned for
fear the dog would get out of the build.
ing. 1t was a crowded neighborhood,
and he might bite Il score Of people be-
fore he was destroyed.
1t is said that the presence Of a great
danger sharpens the sense Of hearing.
l believe this to be true, for l have had
several personal experiences. AS LAY
there waiting for my servant to return
l plainly heard sounds which could not
have come to my ears under ordinary
circumstances. At the foot of the sec.
ond flight of stairs, q distance of fully
70 feet from my bed, Henry was stop
ped BY young man who lodged on
that floor. I heard him say :
81 was waiting here to tell you that
Capt. Williams brute OF dog passed
up stairs short time ago. Is the cap.
tain there ?"
HE was not there when left
"And he has not come in after the
dog. The antlnal had s4lly look, AID
you'd better be cAlc!rul how you drllc
him out,
'Thank You, sir. Iii hurry right up.
| heard my man come up stairs and
come along the hall. As soon as he
saw that my bedroom door was shut he
seemed to suspect the worst. and he
acted like hero. He came down the
hall on tip-toe, put his face close to the
door, and sang out:
Colonel. I know the big dog is in
your room and am going for help. If
he comes near you shut your eyes and
pretend to be dead"
The sound Of his voice put the dog
into frenzy. lie growled and snarled
and snapped, and as the man hurried
lown the hall the beast rushed from
under the bed with dreadful howl and
began rushing around the room as be-
ore. After making the circle of the
bedroom four or five times, he dashed
nto the reception room. There he
lutte overturned the centre table, and
md in his furry he wrenched off a leg
With his teeth and destroyed the mp
of the sofa. I was terribly
'1cited, and had given way to my
ceilings l should have screamed out
ike woman. I shut my eyes tightly
,raced my nerves, by chiding myself
or a coward, and when the climax
was fairly ready for it. l knew that
he dog would sooner or later turn to
ne, and as he left the reception room
le was on the foot Of the bed in two
pounds. There was an open book ly-
ng there, and he seized and worried
his for a moment. Then came walk
ng up to my face, bearing his full
weight on my broken leg, and giving
ne intense pain. My arms and hands
,.-. ~, tLo oovor opI Tho foam from